Wrist pain after short ride – anyone?

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OldMan

OldMan

Joined
May 11, 2013
Messages
167
Location
Portugal
First of all, I'm not even sure if this is the correct place for this kind of topics, sorry if I failed at that.

Without wanting this to get too long, let me talk a bit about my background. I've never done enduro, I ride this berg very occasionally, sometimes it spends weeks sleeping in my garage. This is my second bike. The previous one was a supermoto as well, same weight, 200cc 1/3 of the horse power and most importantly no hydraulic clutch.

Since I got, let's say, used to how the berg reacts, I've been enjoying more and more of it. The problem is I don't need a trip that long to feel the pain in my left wrist which ends up ruining all the fun.

More recently it needed a master cylinder repair kit and I've previously changed the clutch lever, none of which intended to solve this problem but it was there before those changes.

Someone recently mentioned the Clake clutch lever, which even a 5 year old kid can use 1 finger to pull it, and I was really impressed by that, but turns out that $360 (+ taxes + shipping) is not really how I wanted to solve this.

And before someone mentions these things I don't consider myself a weak guy. And I'm not really convinced it is lack of force.

Yesterday I went for a short ride, about 40km. Roughly half way there I was already feeling it on my wrist. It sure vibrates a lot as we all know, but even in low revs when I use it to commute around town I get to feel that pain sometimes.

I guess the enduro guys have to use way more clutch in the hills than I do on traffic, is there anything you can help with? You just get used to it? You have no idea what I'm talking about?
 
Hi, funnily enough i get the 'wrist pain' thing occasionaly.
usually after riding in traffic / lots of clutch like you say....
Might be something to do with the carpal tunnel in the wrist, never looked into it further as it only happens now and again.
But it sure is painfully awkward when it does come on.:mad:
 
Hey Oldman,

Glad to hear you're riding the FS still!

You're a graphic designer, right? Do you mouse with your left or right hand? It might be C.T. syndrome related as it's unusual to experience pain on such a short distance? Hopefully its not (as you don't mention other symptoms) so I guess it's just muscle fatigue? Maybe buy one of those grip strengthening products.

I say this because I recently had a major surgery on my left wrist after snapping it in two... I used some basic strengthening exercises that the physio prescribed. At first it hurt almost immediately (I have the standard Magura) but now my arm will now fatigue after about 2 or 3 hours of solid riding.

Lastly, if you haven't already, rotate the clutch (and brake) forward on the handlebar so that your arm, wrist and fingers are in a natural, relaxed position.

Hope that helps - nothing worse than not enjoying precious ride-time!
 
At home bike on a stand You Standup on bike with eyes closed hands relaxed on the bars have someone move levers up to hands that is where it should Be if your riding off road and if street then do it sitting down.
 
Last edited:
A couple years ago I developed some pain in my left wrist after a 2-day uber-ride (2-300km per day, mostly off road). As I typically don’t ride that much, the long hours triggered some tendonitis along the thumb side of wrist. It started out very mild but I sat on it until winter when it was finally so bad I couldn’t use my hand to do pushups, or even lift out of a chair.

The physiotherapist I saw gave me some simple exercises and it cleared up within 2 weeks. I felt stupid for having left it so long as it was causing me a lot of pain (and not just when riding).

I’m not a physiotherapist or Dr but I’ve come to understand that tendon pain is often caused by a weakness in the opposing muscles that are being used. So, if clutch work is causing pain, you may need to exercise your hand extension. Working out your grip strength might actually aggravate it. The physio got me doing some hand extensions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFkxUGY2S1o, I prefer the asparagus elastics) and some reverse wrist curls (light weight, hi reps) and icing.

If in doubt, go see a physiotherapist. Unlike the chiropractor, they are actually worth the cash...

-Kent
 
If you can move the clutch mounting inboard so your fingers
are near the end of the lever you will gain some mechanical
advantage.
 
Another thing, you may be gripping too tight on the handle bars. I've found that I have a bad habit of gripping too tight when I haven't ridden for a while. Also, recently I changed handle bars on my 501 and I had a CR bend in the garage, I put that on. With the different bend and not having the bars in the normal position I'm used to made my wrists ache like mad.

So as stated in the other posts, check lever position, and even handle bar position, rotate it forward or back till you find a comfortable position with the bars and levers.
 
Thanks everyone, very helpful!

I thought about moving the clutch a little bit more towards the center of the handlebar so I would have that mechanical advantage, but I guess it wont be that easy due to the hardguards bar.

Never tried to rotate either the clutch or the handlebar. Will take a closer look at that and see if I can find a more comfortable position.


@RVJ,
I thought about that as well, although I haven't mentioned it. I'm not actually a graphic designer, I'm a web developer, but that doesn't change much. I spend too many hours in front of a computer writing code. I actually try to use the armrests of the chair in a position that lets my forearm in a 90º position and I don't actually feel any pain when working. And by the way, I use the mouse on the right hand ;)


Thanks again for all the tips. Will update this when I do anything about that. The winter is coming, I have no idea when I will be able to ride again...
 
Cool - yeah I work in a code-shop too, shi**y computers 10 hours a day, every day... Hence why Husaberg's are the perfect stress release!

You'll be amazed at how much difference there is just pushing the levers forward a bit to relax your arm. I was advised to do this by a mate who used to race motor-cross, makes perfect sense and I do it on all bikes I ride now.

A couple of shots of how far forward mine are. This angle feels comfy for commuting and Braaaaaping ;)
 

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Howdy

My 5 cents for what it's worth. I don't think the clutch action is the main culprit but the handlebar bend or something to that effect.

When I rode a full weekend with a crappy clutch that resulted in an tennis elbow which the doctor said was common MX/enduro injury.
When I rode a day with a borrowed bike with different handlebar bend I got pains in my left hand wrist.

With Husabergs hydraulic clutch and a handlebar bend that fits me I've managed to get rid of both "injurys".

Regards
/3nduro
 
3nduro said:
Howdy

My 5 cents for what it's worth. I don't think the clutch action is the main culprit but the handlebar bend or something to that effect.

When I rode a full weekend with a crappy clutch that resulted in an tennis elbow which the doctor said was common MX/enduro injury.
When I rode a day with a borrowed bike with different handlebar bend I got pains in my left hand wrist.

With Husabergs hydraulic clutch and a handlebar bend that fits me I've managed to get rid of both "injurys".

Regards
/3nduro
Click to expand...

Is there such thing as an ideal handlebar bend for everyone or is it a specific thing for each one? Post some pictures or links to what you currently have.
 
OldMan said:
Is there such thing as an ideal handlebar bend for everyone or is it a specific thing for each one? Post some pictures or links to what you currently have.
Click to expand...

Different for everyone! For sure!

The FE 570 ergos are perfect for me.

I run my DRZ with +5cm up /+5cm forward riser blocks AND Pro Taper RM Windham Mid bars, which are noticeably straighter than the stock DRZ bars and have like 2cm more rise. That's JUST high enough for me, whether sitting or standing ... but lots of guys love the stock DRZ bars - and for the same type of riding that I do. This tells me that it has to be COMPLETELY different for every person :)


This quote from Rainerio -

Rainerio said:
At home bike on a stand You Standup on bike with eyes closed hands relaxed on the bars have someone move levers up to hands that is where it should Be if your riding off road and if street then do it sitting down.
Click to expand...

Where do your hands fall? How can you turn the bars so that your wrist/hand are as straight as possible? I.e. straight as in how your hands are when they are relaxed, arms hanging by your sides.

(To get the wrists straight and relaxed usually calls for having your arms elbows-out a bit - a more aggressive position - which is good anyway as you have more leverage and control over the bars and it's easier to get over the bars to weight the front.)
 

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